How Do Unsustainable Practices Remain Dominant? A Practice Theory Reinterpretation of Gramsci

Abstract

Sociological studies of sustainable transformation have highlighted the relevance of ‘unequal’ and ‘uneven’ transformation dynamics. We argue that a practice-based approach provides far more insight into such unequal dynamics than currently recognized. We re-interpret the political concepts of agonism, antagonism and historic bloc that Gramsci used to analyse domination in order to theorize practice constellations and dynamics that are responsible for the perpetuation of unsustainable practices and the suppression of sustainable ones. Based on empirical findings, we also expand his vocabulary by introducing the concept of synergy. Using the example of urban cycling in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, we propose a Gramscian-inspired account of power and domination in practices as a way of understanding inequality in transformation efforts.

Exploring Citizens’ Zero-Waste Journeys Through Practice Theory: Empirical Investigation and Public Policy Implications

“…These synergistic relationships encourage the diffusion of zero waste to many spheres of people's daily lives and make it attractive for those who can rely on the relationships (Woermann and Rokka 2015). While Scheurenbrand et al (2023) reveal how unsustainable practices -based on strong synergistic relationships-maintain their (historical) dominance over sustainable practices (which, by contrast, lack of synergism), our research reveals how sustainable practices can expand based on synergistic relationships throughout the citizens' entire zero-waste journey.…”

“…Second, our study uncovers synergistic relationships that help articulate and maintain practices within bundles and constellations of practices. Extant work, including in the sustainable consumption context (Mylan 2015;Paddock 2017;Sahakian and Wilhite 2014;Scheurenbrand et al 2018Scheurenbrand et al , 2023, reveals relational dynamics among practices, both positive and negative. However, these studies primarily outline the difficulty of implementing new sustainable practices that conflict with well-established (unsustainable) practices predominate (Gonzalez-Arcos et al 2021;Scheurenbrand et al 2018Scheurenbrand et al , 2023.…”

“…If relationships conflict, different practices compete for the same resources (e.g., objects or skills). Several studies in the sustainability context highlight how sustainable and nonsustainable practices potentially clash as they struggle for the same elements (Mylan 2015;Paddock 2017;Sahakian and Wilhite 2014;Scheurenbrand et al 2018Scheurenbrand et al , 2023. For example, Scheurenbrand et al (2018Scheurenbrand et al ( , 2023 illustrate an antagonistic (i.e., conflictual) relationship between practices: the authors reveal how the domination of one practice-driving-hinders the development of another practice-urban cycling-by limiting its access to key resources (e.g., spaces, materiality, official support).…”

“…The second level of analysis then accounts for relationships among practices, which do not exist in isolation (Blue and Spurling 2017;Hui, Schatzki, and Shove 2017). Following Scheurenbrand et al (2023), the relationships among practices can be conflictual or synergistic. If relationships conflict, different practices compete for the same resources (e.g., objects or skills).…”

“…However, relationships between practices can also be virtuous, what Scheurenbrand et al (2023) analyze through the concept of synergism. Such synergistic relationships are based on coordination, harmonization, and mutual support.…”